This guide is designed to help readers work through Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation by providing necessary context (or "back story"), highlight key points ("front story"), suggestions for prayer, and reflection questions about what it means to live out the Christian vision of marriage and family. Since it assumes no background knowledge, Reading, Praying, Living Pope Francis's The Joy of Love is an ideal resource for adults, married couples, students, and faith formation groups. This is the most extensive and helpful commentary on the encyclical available anywhere. It does not include the full text of the encyclical.

About the Author
Julie Hanlon Rubio is professor of social ethics at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California. Previously, she taught for nineteen years at St. Louis University. Her research focuses on marriage, family, sex, and gender. She is the author of four books, including Family Ethics: Practices for Christians (Georgetown, 2010). She speaks to a wide variety of public audiences and writes for popular venues such as America magazine, National Catholic Reporter, the Washington Post, and US Catholic.

Reviews
Pope Francis' recent text, The Joy of Love, is one of the most significant and inspirational church documents ever published on marriage and family. Yet reading such documents can often be a daunting prospect for ordinary Catholics. Julie Hanlon Rubio provides an immensely helpful "readers guide" to assist ordinary Catholics in recognizing the pope's many remarkable insights on marriage and family life. Her extensive theological background, and engaging writing style, coupled with the helpful discussion questions/suggestions for prayer, make this an excellent resource for the training of those engaged in pastoral care to families/married couples, and a wide range of parish discussion groups.Richard Gaillardetz is the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College
In Reading, Praying, Living Pope Francis's The Joy of Love, Dr. Julie Hanlon Rubio walks readers through Amoris Laetitia. Like an excellent tour guide, she points out what is important about this apostolic exhortation by providing the history behind it and the relevance of it for people's lives today. The result of following Dr. Rubio through the text is a rich appreciation of the pope's vision of love in the family. It is a journey I would highly recommend for everyone.Jason King, Professor and Chair of Theology, Saint Vincent College, Editor, The Journal of Moral Theology
Julie Hanlon Rubio deftly summarizes and reviews Pope Francis' important apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, allowing readers to understand both the pope's key points and the surrounding controversies. Anyone looking to better understand Francis' teachings on family life will find this engaging book an extraordinarily useful tool.Joshua J. McElwee, Vatican Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter



Book Information
ISBN 9780814645550
Author Julie Hanlon Rubio
Format Paperback
Page Count 96
Imprint Liturgical Press
Publisher Liturgical Press
Weight(grams) 113g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 137mm * 6mm